The quarterback battle will be front and center when three signal-callers try to take a step toward winning the starting job during UMaine football’s 18th annual Jeff Cole Memorial Spring Game at Morse Field in Alfond Stadium from 10 a.m.-noon Saturday.
The game honors the memory of former UMaine assistant coach Jeff Cole, who died of cancer on Oct. 18, 2004.
Last fall, All-Coastal Athletic Association honorable mention quarterback Derek Robertson threw for 2,933 yards, third most in program history and 10th most in the country among 122 Football Championship Subdivision schools.
But he has transferred to CAA rival Monmouth where he joins older brother Jimmy, the quarterbacks coach.
So Mercer University (Ga.) graduate student transfer Carter Peevy, UMaine back-up Anthony Harris, a senior, and sophomore Caden Drezek will be taking the snaps on Saturday to try to impress the coaching staff.
“I’ll be looking for accuracy in the passing game and their ability to run and manage the offense,” said UMaine head coach Jordan Stevens. “That may seem routine to a fan but it takes a special presence to be able to do that. You have to communicate with everyone and get everything running.
“All three have done a real good job. How they handle everything is going to be interesting,” he added.
“All of them have shown they have special qualities. So it will be which one is the most consistent down the stretch tomorrow and through the first half of preseason camp (at the end of the summer),” said the 37-year-old head coach.
Peevy threw for 2,284 yards and rushed for 325 yards to lead Mercer to a berth in the FCS playoffs.
Harris completed 13 of his 18 passes for 111 yards and a touchdown while backing up Robertson last fall during UMaine’s second consecutive 2-9 campaign.
UMaine averaged only 79.7 yards per game rushing and that ranked 119th. The Black Bears averaged just three yards per rush although quarterback sacks count against it.
Stevens is seeking a more balanced attack to make his offense less predictable.
“Everything starts with running the football and we’ve done a better job of that this spring,” said Stevens. “We’ve put a huge emphasis on that.”
He is also looking for his quarterbacks to make “good decisions.
“We have to make routine throws and catches. Those are things you’re going to have to do to win football games,” said Stevens, who feels he has some good young offensive lineman in redshirt sophomore guards Nicolas Cruji and Turner’s Jack Boutaugh; sophomore tackle Xavier Lozowicki and junior center Joe Horn.
“I’m excited to see what they can do,” said Stevens.
“Joe Horn is back after having surgery. His knee nagged him all season long,” said Stevens.
Cruji will be among a handful of players who won’t be playing Saturday due to minor injuries along with wide receiver Joe Gillette and safety Robby Riobe.
“They will be back training with the guys within a month,” said Stevens.
Last year’s leading rusher, freshman Tristen Kenan, who carried the ball 110 times for 462 yards, also won’t be playing because he is tending to personal matters according to Stevens.
UMaine returns most of its receiving corps including leading pass-catchers Jamie Lamson 49 receptions-for-552 yards) and Montigo Moss (37-for-408).
On the other side of the ball, Stevens will be looking for his defense to stop the run after it allowed 177 rushing yards per game and 4.8 yards per carry last fall.
He said they have a “really good young secondary” featuring players like cornerbacks Alhaji Kamara, a redshirt junior, and redshirt sophomore Jamaree Gibson along with sophomore safety Devin Vaught.
“I’m really excited about them,” said Stevens.
Another aspect of the spring workouts and spring game is to develop depth and Stevens felt they have done that.
“Our younger players have taken a ton of reps. I feel good about the strides we’re making there,” said Stevens, who noted that around 90 percent of his twos (second-stringers) are first-year players at UMaine.
He has been pleased with his new coordinators, offensive coordinator Mikahael Waters and defensive coordinator Umberto Di Meo. They will be the third set of coordinators in three seasons but both were assistants at UMaine last year while last year’s coordinators, Jeff Comissiong (defense) and Steve Cooper (offensive), had come to UMaine from other schools.
“They have done a great job and the players are responding to them. It was nice to continue with them after them being here last year. Mikahael has been here several years,” said Stevens. “They love the game and have very competent skills in terms of understanding offensive and defensive schemes.”
He said both are sticklers when it comes to fundamentals.
“And that has shown. Our guys have been much better,” said Stevens.
The game will pit the offenses against the defenses and it will culminate in a red zone competition with the offense receiving seven points for a touchdown and three points for a field goal while the defense will earn four points if it forces the offense to have to kick a field goal and seven points if the offense fails to score any points.
